Game-cue.



W. VIRNIG.

GAME CUE.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 8. 1916.

'WILLIAM VIENIG; [OF BEMIDJ' I, MINNESOTA.

, GAME-CUE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept."25, 1917.

Application filed January 8,1916. 'Seria1No."?1,025.

'1 '0' allzwhomit mag concern: I

die it. known that L'dVILLIAM VIRNIG, a subject-ofthe \King of Great Britain, residing. atBemidji, in the county o-fi Beltrami and :State of -Minnesota, 1 have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game- Cues; andI dohereby declare. the; followingtobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such :aswill enable others skilled in the art to which itiappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates togame cues,1-and the primary object of the invention is to provide a spring controlled cue which is adapted for use when playing games, such as crokinole, carom, or the like, wherein the thumb and finger areusu'a'llyemployed for propelling the shooter or cue ring.

"Another objectof this invention'is to provide a cue as specified, which includes a casing having a cue mounted therein for longitudinal movement within the casing, one end of which cue projects beyond one end of the casing for forming a handle, and the other end of the cue projecting beyond the end of the casing for forming the striking end.

A further object of this invention is to mount springs within said casing and coil them about said cue, one of which springs will act as a propelling spring for forcing the cue outwardly in a striking operation,

and the other spring acting as a cushioning spring, also to provide a longitudinally extending slot within said cue, through which the inner ends of said springs extend for connecting'the springs to the cue.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more full described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved game cue.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the cue showing a portion of the striking end of the same broken away.-

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through the game cue taken at right angles to the section illustrated in Fig. 2, and

.:Fig. 4: is, a cross=sectional view through the game cue.

wReferring more particularly to the-drawing; l==designates the casingof the. one as an entirety, which is composed ofsections 2 and 3, equal in size; and which-sections are held in their proper connectedcpositions by ringsor-ferrules 4, which encompass the casing adjacent to its ends. The internal bore of the casing, adjacent itsends'is reduced-as isshown at 5, so a's to form snug fitting bearings-for the cue prop-er which-is indicated by the-numeral 6. .The one proper, comprises a circular rod,the' ends -of*which project beyond both ends of the casing 1. The end 7 of the-cue-6forms a handle, while the end 8 forms the striking end of the cue. The end 8 of the cue has a tip 9-1nounted thereon which is constructed of any suitable type of cushioning material, such as rubber, felt or the like.

The one 6 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 10, which is positioned substantially equi-distant of its end and interiorly of the casing 1. The casing 1 has a link 11 connected thereto which projects inwardly into the bore of the same and has one end of a coil spring 12 connected thereto. The spring 12 is coiled about the one 6 and has its end remote from the end which is connected to the link 11, bent to assume substantially a U-shape as is shown at 18, the bight portion 14: of which projects through the slot 10 and engages one of the end walls of the slot. The free end of the U-shaped portion 13 of the spring is twisted about the innermost convolution of the spring, as shown at 15 so as to securely connect the U-shaped end of the spring to the main body.

A second spring 16 is connected to the casing 6, by a link analogous to the link 11 and it is coiled about the cue 6. The spring 16 has its end 17 which is remote from theend that is connected to the link, bent to assume substantially a U-shaped portion, the bight portion 18 of which engages the end of the slot 10 remote from the end which is engaged by the bight portion 14 of the U-shaped end 13 of the spring 12. The free end of the U-shaped portion 17 of the spring 16, is twisted about the innermost convolution of the spring, as is shown at 19 for securely connecting the end of the spring to the body and holding the U-shaped portion 17 in proper position.

A hand grip 20 is formed upon the section 3 and is provided for facilitating the use of the cue. I

In the operation of the improved cue. when it is desired to project a cue ring, ball, or the like, the cue is moved longitudinally Within the casing 1, moving the handle end 7 outwardly, which compresses springs 16 and stretches or expands the spring 12, so that when the pulling power upon the one is released, the spring 12 will contract, and force the striking end 8 of the one out- Wardly, causing 1t to impart motion to a cue ring, ball or the like which is positioned within its path. Upon the contraction of the spring 12, and the outward forcing of the striking end of the cue,- the spring 16 will act as a cushion to the outward forcing action of the cue.

In reducing the invention to practice certain minor features .of construction, combinationand arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations to which the patentee is entitled provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is A game cue comprising a casing, a cue slidably mounted within and having its ends projecting beyond the casing, the cue being provided between its ends with an elongated slot extending longitudinally thereof, cushion and pro ecting coiled springs located within the casing and surrounding the cue with their opposing ends relatively spaced, means securing the remote ends of the springs to the casing, and means connected to the opposite ends of the springs and slidably passing the slot near the ends thereof so that the movement of the cue in onedirection will expand the projecting spring and slide through the cushion spring and the movement of the cue under the influence of the projecting spring will near theend of said movement expand the cushion spring.

In testimony whereof I affi'x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I WILLIAM VIRNIG.

Witnesses:

P. J. RUSSELL, GERTRUDE WILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. G. I 

